37.3 million adults in the U.S. have some form of diabetes, and one in five are unaware they have it. This chronic disease is the seventh leading cause of death, but in the last 20 years, the number of adults with diabetes has doubled. If you suspect you may have diabetes, keep reading to find out about the signs & symptoms of diabetes to watch for.
Untreated Diabetes
Before we lay out the common signs and symptoms of diabetes, it is important to understand that untreated diabetes can cause severe damage to many of your organs. This chronic disease will get worse overtime, but the symptoms can occur gradually if they are mild. It is vital that you pay attention to any of the following signs.
Increased Thirst And Urination
Most people will urinate between 4 and 7 times in a 24 hour period, but with diabetes you will urinate more often and become more thirsty than normal. This occurs because normally your body will reabsorb the glucose or sugar as it passes through the kidneys, but with diabetes if your blood sugar is too high and your kidneys cannot absorb it all. The result is your body will make more urine and you need fluids to do that. It becomes a cycle as the more thirsty you become the more you urinate.
Fatigue And Hunger
Your body converts food into glucose for energy. Our cells need insulin to take in the glucose, but if you don’t have enough insulin or your body resists the insulin, you will have less energy making you more tired and hungry.
Additional Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes
Other common symptoms include the following:
- Blurry vision
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Sores and wounds that are slow to heal
- Losing weight without trying
- Yeast infections
Risk Factors
Could you have diabetes and not know it? It is entirely possible if you have any combination or all of the above signs and symptoms.
Risk factors make you more susceptible to developing diabetes. The risk factors for diabetes include being over the age of 45 and overweight, living a sedentary lifestyle, a family history of diabetes or insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and having abnormal triglycerides or HDL cholesterol levels. Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan native, and Asian American people are also at a higher risk. Avoid smoking, as puts you at higher risk.
Don’t wait to find out if you are diabetic.
Contact KU Wichita Internal Medicine if you suspect you may have diabetes. A simple test at our Wichita office can diagnose diabetes. We have many resources for patients with diabetes including educational and behavioral programs, medications and comprehensive diabetic visits that offer necessary monitoring and screening to prevent disease progression.